Thermoelectric apparatus for heating compounds used for dental impressions



April 13, 1943.

mi W15 bb b? ML RIB THERMO-ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR HEATING COMPOUNDS USED FOR DENTAL IMPRESSIONS Filed June 9, 1941 Iglu Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSIONS .cseMendez Ribas, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,322 In Argentina January 13, 1941 (Cl. 21S-38) 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus adapted for the preparation and maintenance oi' elastic compounds, defined as pastes capable of being utilized for dental impressions. This apparatus tends to simplify dentists work from the moment that it allows them to have at his disposition from one to ve units of new or old elastic compound, quite ready to be applied at the ideal temperature for the mouth, in contrast with the elementary independent systems actually known and based on a syringe heater for one sole unit (one impression), and which oblige a professional to delay twenty minutes in their preparation without any scientiiic control of temperature, while the apparatus which is the object of this invention, permits of obtaining up to eight successive impressions.

The apparatus in question, comprises a tubular member' in which is placed the material be used; this tubular member is associated with a receptacle, for containing hot water, the receptacle being arranged axially in the form oi an external cover, in which are provided means for the electrical heating of the water to a predetermined temperature, the apparatus being completed by other elements arranged in the form hereinafter detailed in a whole in accordance with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a general view kof the apparatus in vertical section along the axis showing the form in which its elements are arranged.

Figure 2 is a sketch of the detail of the electrical connection circuit of the apparatus with the source of supply.

Figure 3 is a partial detail of the apparatus in cross section through the line A-A of Figure l.

The apparatus, according to the design shown in the accompanying drawing, comprises the following arrangement of parts: a tubular member I, which ends in a base plate 2, vto which is soldered a receptacle 3, the container of the h ot water which causes the softening of the paste. The lower end of part I is suitably threaded for a screw connection to a cover 4, and at its upper end said part I, includes a threaded portion for the connection by a screw oi a coupling 5, fixed to the inside part of a curved top 6, the screwing of which upon part I, is effected by moving a hand knob 1, fixed to one of the sides of said top.

Within part I there is arranged so as to have free lineal movement, a beater, comprised of a disk 8, provided in its surface with multiple holes 9; Figures 1-3, and in two of its diametrically opposed ends said element 8, is provided with two indentations I3 on which rests a corresponding stop I I, fixed by its vertical projection I2, to the base of a piston I3, which moves freely on a rod I4, fixed to the element 8 which rod projects through the top 6, ending in a manually operated knob I5, xed to said rod by means of a retaining collar I3.

Element 4 is provided with a central aperture I1, suitably tapped, and which forms the path of discharge of the material, said aperture being capable of being closed by a valvular member I3, which includes a stem I3, projecting to the exterior of an under cover 29, provided with a central cavity 2i, also tapped with a thread ideni tical with that of the aperture I1, in order to receive the member I3 in the same. when it is operated by the outside part of the bottom cover 20 by meansof a manually operated knob 22, which forms the lower extreme end of the rod I9, the bottom cover 23, being connected by one of its ends and with free rotary movement to element 4, by means of a pin 23, adjustable in position by a hand knob 24, including at the opposite end of the bottom cover 2D, an indentation 25, formed in the radius of action of a stop 26, projecting from element ll, said stop forming the means of limiting the open play of the bottom cover to the limit required until the obtaining of the total aperture of the discharge opening I1.

The receptacle 3 includes in the upper porti-on of one of its sides, altubular member 21, which ends in a basin 28, in which is placed the water with which the said receptacle is to be charged. to

which the tubular member 21 is connected'byscrewing to'-A the coupling 29', fixed to the receptacle 3, with which vit communicates the passage' determined by element 21, through an 'admission orifice 30, made in said receptacle, which towards its lower end is provided with a cock 3 I, through which the emptying of the receptacle is 'effected when this may be necessary.

The upper opening of receptacle 3, is closed by a disc cover 32, adjusted by a central perforation made 'in the same, against the external surface of element I to which said cover is soldered, xed by its external edge, againsj a cap in the form of an inverted truncated cone 33, fixed by a corresponding ring ridge; lowerv end 34, and upper end 35 to the upper opening of the receptacle 3 and the upper end of a segment of the cover 3S, which by its lower opening is ccnnected coaxially with the upper opening of a complementary cover 37, and they vare Vfixed reciprocally to each other by means of a ring union Both coverings :i5-31, denne conjointly with the outside surface of the receptacle 3, a chamber for the containing of the heating elements of the receptacle which in its turn by radiation, transmit heat to the water contained in same.

Cover 6, suitably xed to the upper opening of the segment of the cover 36, by means of a ring base 39, to which said cover is firmly fixed by a lower end ridge 6a, formed in the same by stamping, includes in its central part a bush 4D, in which the rod i4 is guided in its line of lineal movement. This bush bears connected horizontally to it by a screw thread the pin 4I, of a stem 42, which ends in a manually operated knob 43, by means of which stem 42 and pin 4I are operated so as to fix the stem I4 on the bush with the beater 8 at a determined height in element I, in accordance with the volume of compound to be discharged as the necessities of the professional may determine.

The apparatus is provided with a pair of supporting columns 44, xed to a supporting platform 45, the length of the columns 44 being fixed in such Ya way as to leave between the discharge opening I7 and the platform 45, a. sufficient space to permit of the free placing of the tray for the elastic compound in the zone of discharge of said opening. The apparatus is complemented by means of electric heating of the receptacle 3, which, by radiation, transmits the heat to the water contained in same, which in its turn, causes the heating of the tubular member I, which by radiation produces in its turn the softening of the elastic compound. These means of heating comprise: an electrical resistance 45, coiled round a sheet of dielectric material 4'I fixed to a sheet of same material 43, fastened conjointly with the element 45-47, to the outside part of the lower zone of the receptacle 3, with the interposition of an additional sheet of dielectric material 49, by means of a band 5S. The resistance 45, is connected directly by one of its terminals 5I (see Figure 2) to the plug 52, whilst its opposite terminal 53 is connected to a thermostatic plate 54, the contact of which 55 is in front of a similar contact 55, xed to the upper end of a plate of opposite pole 57, connected directly in an electrical circuit with the complementary plug' 58, said electrical connection between plates and plugs being established by means of corresponding conductors 59 and G, iixed at the lower end of said plates and the after end of the plugs, by common elements nxed by screwing on to the base of pins, nuts and locking-nuts respectively; the plugs 52-58 forming the means of an electrical connection of the apparatus with the installation of the source of current by common intermediary elements of connection.

Both plates 54-5'! conjointly with the supplementary plate G-I which operates on the after part of plate 5'! are fixed to a support 52 fastened by soldering to the outside part of the receptacle 3, the fixing of said plate to the support being i carried out by the interposition between same of ly operated knob 6l, which operates in the radius of action of a quadrant 68, which will be provided with a scale with indications of distinct degrees of temperature in accordance with indications of a thermometer E3, visible from the external portion oi the segment of the cover 36, said thermometei` being connected with a metal box 'ID fixed towards the upper end of the receptacle 3, virtual contact being made between its after end and the tubular member I.

Plate 5I on being bent by the increase of temperature in the apparatus causes pressure on plate 5'I, by means of a push stop 7l, which operates in contact with insulating sheet l2, iixed to the after part of plate 57, and in the same form; the entering end of the rod 85, causes pressure against insulating sheet 73, fastened to the front space of plate 54.

The working of the apparatus proceeus in the following way; the cover 6 is taken orf, operating saine by means of element l, and the rod I4 being taken out together with said cover next the elastic compound is placed within the tubular member l, in sufficient quantity to fill said tubular member as far as necessary; now the cover 6 is replaced in its tight position by screwing its union on the upper end of the tubular member I, the elastic compound remaining below the beater 8, on which the piston I3 acts; the receptacle 3 is filled with a quantity of water equivalent to 280 cubic centimetres; the apparatus is connected to the electric current until the water begins to boil, the steam generated by the boiling reaching the outside by passing through elements 21-28, and in the space of a quarter of an hour, more or less, the elastic compound is in a iit state for use for dental impressions, since in that space of time it has reached the required degree of softening, the same being beaten by the beater 8. Later on the electric current is cut off and is connected to the thermostat at 160o F. cold water being added to the receptacle, until same runs into the basin 28, in which the water is maintained at a constant temperature of F. the same being destined for the object of impregnating the professionals finger, in order to effect the smoothing of the elastic compound with which the tray is charged. the bottom cover ZI! being opened for this purpose after having rotated member I8, by means of the manually operated knob 22, until same remains tight within the cavity 2I of the bottom cover, which is opened by moving said manually operated knob, until the indentation 25 of same rests upon the stop 25, which forms the maximum opening of said bottom cover, which is rotated in the opposite direction, once the tray has been charged, the nuclear element I8 being returned to the position indicated in Figure l, the charging of the tray being carried out in the following manner: the operator joins to each other piston I3 and beater 8, by tting elements I I, into the indentations I0 of the beater; he lowers element I3, as far as the cavity 2I of the bottom cover, fixing the opening of the bottom cover in the manner hereinbefore speciiied, at which moment he fixes the stem I4, by means of the threaded pin 4I, together with elements 3I3 at a given height of the tubular member I, in relation to the quantity of elastic compound require-d for the impression, after which he retums elements 20 and I8 to the position indicated in Figure l, moving the same in the manner hereinbefore specied and under these conditions the professional man has elastic compound ready for use at his disposition during consulting hours.

It is evident that within what has been de scribed and represented in the accompanying drawing there may yet be introduced modifications With regard to the constructional form and functional arrangement amongst the elements forming part of same, these being eventualities which the inventor reserves the right to put into practice, without, for this reason, passing beyond the limits and scope of what has 'already been specified.

I claim:

1. A thermo-electric apparatus for heating elastic compounds utilised for dental impressions, which comprises a central tubular covering for containing the elastic compound, a receptacle for containing the water for heating the elastic compound Within the tubular covering, which said receptacle surrounds; a complementary outside covering which surrounds the receptacle which contains the water for heating the elastic compound, between which cover and receptacle there is formed a sleeve provided with means for the electrical heating of the receptacle, means of access to the Water within the receptacle and means for emptying the receptacle, there being included Within the central tubular cover, means for beating the elastic compound, means for closing the discharge opening for the elastic compound through the central tubular covering; means for slowing and regulating the discharge of the elastic compound to a predetermined volume and a thermostatic group for equalizing the temperature of the Water at the predetermined maximum of `a visible control.

2. A thermo-electric apparatus for heating elastic compounds used for dental impressions which comprises a central tubular covering for containing the elastic compound, a receptacle for containing the Water for heating the elastic compound within the central covering, said receptacle surrounding said tubular covering in spaced relation, a complementary cover which surrounds the receptacle for containing the water for heating the elastic compound and which includes at one end a shut-oi disc-top for closing the upper opening of the receptacle, a cap xed on the upper opening of the receptacle and an external cover on which is xed the disc-top and an external top connected by a screw threaded connection to the central tubular covering, said external top covering said disc-top andcap and including manually operable means for its connection to and disconnection from the central tubular covering.

3. A thermo-electric apparatus for heating elastic compounds used for dental impressions, which comprises a central tubular covering for containing the elastic compound, a receptacle for containing the water for heating the elastic compound Within the central tubular covering, a complementary covering, which surrounds the receptacle for containing the water forheating the elastic compound, which comprises the inclusion within the central tubular covering, of means for beating the elastic compound, these means being composed of a disc with multiple perforations fixed to the extreme end of a rod, provided with a counterweight piston freely movable `along the rod, said rod including at the end projecting from the outer cover means for slowing the discharge of the elastic compound to a predetermined volume depending on the relative distance between the means for beating and the bottom of the central covering at which distance said means are xed by the anchoring of the rod to the outside top by means of retention actuated by a screw and defined by a bush united to the casing and through which the lineal movement of the rod is governed, and the threaded end of a pin moved by manual action on a knob, xed to said pin, the rod being provided at its upper end with a knob for manual operation.

4. A thermo-electric apparatus for heating elastic compounds used for dental impressions, which comprises a central tubular covering for containing the elastic compound, a receptacle for containing the water for heating the elastic compound Within the central tubular covering, a complementary covering which surrounds the receptacle for containing the water for heating the elastic compound, a bottom wall for said central tubular covering provided with a central aperture which forms the discharge opening for the elastic compound, a cover having a central cavity rotatably attached to the underside of said bottom Wall, a blocking member normally positioned in said discharge opening and adapted to be moved into the cavity of said cover, whereupcn said cover is adapted to be moved into open position, a manually operated knob fixed to the lower end of a rod projecting downwardly from said blocking member passing through said cover, and a stop for limiting the rotary movement of said cover to the maximum degree of aperture required.

5. A thermo-electric apparatus for heating elastic compounds used for dental impressions, which comprises a central tubular covering for containing the elastic compound, a receptacle for containing the Water for heating the elastic compound vvithin the central tubular covering, a complementary covering which surrounds the receptacle for containing the Water for heating the elastic compound, which comprises the inclusion within the central tubular covering, of means for beating the elastic compound, including means for reciprocal union between the beating element formed by a disc provided with multiple perforations and a counterweight piston these means being completed by axial stops projecting from the base of the piston in the position of rest tting in orifices made in the beater.

JOSE MENDEZ RIBAS. 

